Silver Mono

About this fish

Silver Mono is a common shop name for Monodactylus argenteus, often kept as a silver “moony” fish in brackish aquariums. In practice, it’s used to add a striking, fast-swimming schooling fish to a community tank that has the right salinity, water quality, and open swimming space.

Features:

• Brilliant silver body and high-visibility presence make it a showpiece fish in brackish setups
• Best kept in groups to support natural schooling behavior and reduce stress
• Typically a strong swimmer that does best with open mid-to-upper water space rather than heavy, cluttered aquascapes
• Generally active and can be community-capable, but may show territorial behavior toward similar fish depending on tank size and stocking
• Diet is flexible: it readily accepts prepared foods while also benefiting from varied options that include plant/algae components
• Thrives when kept in stable water conditions with appropriate brackish salinity rather than freshwater alone

Specifications:

• Scientific name: Monodactylus argenteus
• Type: Brackishwater fish
• Care level: Intermediate
• Temperament: Generally peaceful to semi-tolerant; may show aggression toward similar fish depending on conditions
• Diet: Omnivorous; prepared foods plus a varied diet including algae/plant matter and meaty foods
• Adult size: Can reach roughly 20–30 cm (8–12 in) depending on conditions
• Temperature: About 24–28 °C (75–82 °F)
• pH: Roughly 7.5–8.4 (typical for brackish setups)
• Salinity: Brackish range (often maintained around ~1.005–1.015 specific gravity)